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CONTACTS:
Locum Priest: Position vacant at the moment Church Wardens: Barbara Kenyon: Phone no: 0251 40 51 59, e-mail: [email protected]
Joan Stewart: Phone no: 0251 00 34 70, e-mail:[email protected] Readers: Robin Kenyon: Phone no: 0251 40 51 59, e-mail: [email protected] John Matthews: Phone no: 0549 75 29 71, e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.allsaintsvendee.fr
Preface
I am delighted that one of our Readers, John Matthews, has
written this month`s Preface for us:
Dear friends,
The family was on the beach at Les Sables d'Olonne and the young daughter dug a hole in the sand. She then went down to the sea and brought some water to fill the hole. In a moment the water disappeared. She repeated the exercise again and again only to find the same thing happened. Of course, she became tired and started to cry. Meanwhile the tide had been coming in, so her father showed her how to make a channel to the sea, so it would flow naturally into the hole and fill it - and the girl was content.
Aren't we a bit like that girl? We try to fill our minds with ideas about God and often exhaust ourselves. We think, and talk, too much. We need to wait upon the Lord, knowing he will come to us. As Paul tells the church in Rome, 'don't try to measure the wind of God's love; just go with it, let it breath through you and empower you''. This is God's Spirit, a totally renewable power source. To be filled with the vitality of God's love is to share in a relationship with him and to know ourselves truly loved.
Its also to share in God's limitless love for the world. Paul insists that our love must be as unending as God's. No check-lists, not just loving our neighbour 'on our terms only'. God the Son preferred to go to the cross rather than force his creation into a dutiful and fearful obedience to the Father -so that must also be our choice.
One of the distinguishing features of Christianity is how we discern God. We believe he is 'three persons in one' - the Trinity- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So we know God as Father in creation; as Jesus, the Son, intervening throughout history; and as the Holy Spirit active in us.
The Trinity is a community of love, and this rich and dynamic model means we have a God for whom relationships are crucial. Christianity offers an understanding of God the Father known through the Son, and experienced through the Holy Spirit. Simple yet complex, accessible yet subtle. God beyond our imagination, yet God with us.
As we celebrated at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit first became available to all believers shortly after Pentecost, a few weeks after the Resurrection. Jesus explained that we cannot control the work of the Holy Spirit. He works in ways we cannot predict or understand. Just as we did not control our physical birth, neither can we control our spiritual birth. It's a gift from God. Paul reminds us, via his letter to the church in Rome, 'you have received a spirit of adoption and when we cry, 'Abba, Father', it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
What a privilege! What a responsibility!
As children of God we are invited to enjoy his love but to extend it to others, that all may come to believe, and to experience that love for themselves.
John Matthews
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Church of All Saints in the Vendée “To know and to share Jesus Christ”
July 2013
JULY INTO AUGUST CHURCH SERVICES WITH BIBLE READINGS
All Services start at 11am except where indicated
7/7/2013 MW Trinity 6 LCP
1st Lesson: 2Kings 5: 1- 14 Epistle: Galatians 6: 7-16 Gospel: St Luke 10: 1-11+16-20
14/7/2013 HC Trinity 7 PDS
1st Lesson: Amos 7: 7-17 Epistle: Colossians 1: 1-14 Gospel: St Luke 10: 25-37
21/7/2013 MW Trinity 8 LCA
1st Lesson: Amos 8: 1-12 Epistle: Colossians 1: 15-28 Gospel: St Luke 10: 38- 42
21/7/2013 5pm Evensong Trinity 8 TSG
28/7/2013 MW Trinity 9 PDS
1st Lesson: Hosea 1: 2-10 Epistle: Colossians 2: 6 -15 Gospel: St Luke 11: 1-13
LCA = La Chapelle Achard; PDS = Puy de Serre; LCP = La Chapelle Palluau, TSG = Tallud Sainte Gemme
MW=Morning Worship; HC(CW)=Holy Communion (Common Worship); BCP=Book of Common Prayer
Please join us for Tea, Coffee & Biscuits after our services, followed by a Bring & Share Lunch
Everyone is welcome to join us - even if you have not brought anything There is always enough to go round!
(Unfortunately, when there is a service on the fifth Sunday in the month, the hall is not available).
Whatever happened to the little dog who was hanging around before and after church last Sunday? The little dog came home
with me and, eventually, I managed to find her original (registered) owner via her 'tattouage' Her original owner lives in Las Sables d'Olonne but had given the dog (her name is Hola) to a friend. How Hola ended up in Puy de Serre is unclear. This evening I arranged to meet her original owner at 'Sud Avenue' La Roche Sur Yon and the little dog has been returned Barney is sulking and won't speak to me Polly
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5th July, Friday: Quiz. 5.30pm for 6pm prompt start! For more details, please see below and/or contact Polly Ward on 0251 51 64 29 10th July, Wednesday: Ministry Team Meeting, 10am 17th July, Wednesday: Church Council Meeting, 10am, Les Essarts 21st July, Sunday: Evensong. 5pm. Tallud Sainte Gemme 25th July, Thursday: Ladies Circle, 2.30pm For further details, please contact Joan Stewart on 02 51 00 34 70 25th July, Thursday, 6pm: Kedgeree or Curry? Chez Jack and Val Goadby.
Don’t forget that Diary Updates are available on our Website: www.AllSaintsVendee.fr
Names on our Prayer List……….
Through the coming days Please remember especially in your prayers:
Arnold Burrows, who had a serious fall in his own home recently resulting in
surgery at La Roche sur Yon. He has now been moved to rehabilitation at
Luçon and is able to walk a little with the aid of a walking frame.
Sally Mills, who has now returned home following her second hip operation. She is able to walk
unaided in the house and a little outside with a walking aid.
David Pearson - Following a minor problem a few weeks ago he is again doing well. He has a
return visit to his consultant in July.
Peter Hutchinson who is suffering from Parkinsons and who is now fairly frail and living alone
Please let Dawn, our Prayer Co-ordinator, have details of any folk you become aware of who need our prayers.
0240 33 12 21, or [email protected].
“Thank you all for your continuing prayers”
Page Three
Notes from our Church Wardens
We are indebted to the Rev. Martyn Crompton and the Rev. Adrian Low
who will be helping us out in June, July and August. Unfortunately the
Rev. Herbie Floate and the Rev. Bernard Rumbold may be unable to lead
the Services which they had originally planned to do. They are however
both trying to re-organise their time with us. Both Martyn and Adrian
have second homes here and have offered us their services. Thank you
both!
On Sunday the 16th June some members of A.S.V. were delighted to attend a Service of
Confirmation at St., Bartholomew's church in Dinard. Bishop Geoffrey confirmed five
candidates, three of whom were from the Vendee. It was a lovely service and we were made
most welcome by the congregation of St. Bartholomew's, even by the two dogs who
regularly attend services there!
As there were a number of us supporting the confirmation candidates in Brittany it is perhaps
not too surprising that the number of people attending our first Evensong of the year was
rather small. Hopefully our next three will see more people at this lovely Service. Please try
and come. The church is found very easily as it on the main square in the little village of
Tallud Sainte Gemme – just off the D949bis, west of La Chataigneraie.
We have had a letter from Bishop David who says that he will be trying out new initiatives in
the search for a priest, let us pray that these bring success.
We have a number of social events coming up so please keep checking the Social events
calendar on the website. Barbara Kenyon
ARCHDEACONRY SYNOD 2013
The Archdeaconry Synod was held at St. Jacut de la Mer on the 12th
to the 15th
June.
The venue for the Synod is an old Abbey which has been turned into a Conference and family holiday centre
and is therefore ideal for accommodating the many representatives, both Lay and Clergy, from all the
Anglican Parishes in France. There were fifty seven lay representatives at the Synod and thirty four clergy.
There is a Chapel at the Abbey and during the Synod, Morning Prayer, Eucharist and Evening Prayer are
held daily.
The Synod this year was led by Bishop Geoffrey and will be his last Synod here as he retires in November.
The main topics for discussion this year were wide ranging. We also had two very comprehensive Bible
Study sessions.
Meeting with people from other Parishes helps us to realise that, whilst we are not alone in having
problems, the Anglican Church in France is flourishing.
Robin Kenyon
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BBBooonnnnnneeesss FFFêêêttteeesss!!!
`Wilyworks, mummy! Wilyworks!` Apparently, I drove my mother mad one day when I was very small. What on earth was I trying to say? She tried putting on `Music while you work` on the wireless. No, it wasn`t that. She became so frustrated and unable to satisfy my demand, that she remembered it all her life. And what was it that I was unable to say? Why, fireworks, of course! And some people would tell you that I have changed very little since that time! I still love fireworks. Le quatorze juillet, La fête nationale, Bastille Day, call it what you will, will soon be upon us. Every small town and village will have its own celebration. There will be dances, `diners champêtres`, all the fun of the fair on this national holiday and to round it all off, there will be glorious firework displays after the sun sets. I can`t wait.... Fireworks need to have that wonderful warm velvety blackness of a summer night. Cloudless, clear and no hint of rain. Sitting outside on such a night is such a pleasure – and so unlike the damp Novembers we have been used to! Some may miss the smell of the Autumn bonfires, the blackened hotdogs and the scalding soup and jacket potatoes that burned your mouth. Not me! Instead of welly boots, I shall be wearing sandals. Instead of several woolly jumpers, I shall be wearing a T shirt. Instead of a mac, I shall take a light cardigan, just in case! No gloves. No thick wool socks. No strange woollen hats with bobbles on the top… What a sensible time of year for such a celebration! Bonnes fêtes, everyone! Joan Stewart
FRIDAY 5 July 2013
START 1800
(Salle will be open from 1730 for registration and apero)
SALLE PAROISSIALE AT PUY DE SERRE
TEAMS OF 4 - 6 CONTESTANTS
PRICE €10.00 per head
(includes apero, 2 course meal and quizzes)
Bring your own drinks and glasses
MEALS THIS TIME WILL BE
EITHER BUFFET & SALAD
OR PAN-FRIED SALMON, SALAD +
POTATOES (Please contact Polly to book your place)
Page Five
OUR CONFIRMATION IN DINARD
On Sunday 16th
June, Joan Stewart, my son
Daniel and I were confirmed in Dinard by
the Rev Geoffrey Rowell, the Bishop in
Europe. This was a very special weekend ,
especially for me and Daniel. We travelled
up to the region on the Saturday afternoon
and stayed in a camp site in Dol de
Bretagne.
On Sunday morning we were made very welcome by Rev Gareth Randall and his
congregation in their beautiful church in Dinard. During the service Joan was
introduced to the Bishop by Robin Kenyon, I introduced Daniel to the Bishop and
Daniel introduced me. We then shared our first communion. It was a very
emotional and calming experience for me.
Afterwards we were all given a Bible signed by the Bishop to help us on our way in
our Christian journey. We shared drinks and cake after the service, then headed
back to the camp site for some swimming and a late lunch before heading back to
La Vendée.
To be able to be confirmed at the same time as my son and share this experience
with him was very special for both of us, I am so proud of Daniel for taking this step.
He is proud too and was so excited to tell his class mates all about it on Monday
morning and he now wears his cross every day with pride and a smile.
I would like to give huge thanks to the people in All Saints Vendée who supported us
through this and helped make it possible – Polly Ward, and Barbara and Robin
Kenyon.
God bless xx
Lynn Talbot
NOSTALGIA – AND HOW TO TREAT IT!
Now, look, I`m not one of these people who constantly talk about the Good Old Days, because there were not enough of them to form the basis of a good reminisce during my early years in North Wales. Still, I had my football to play and watch, and even cricket when it was dry – no, it wasn`t sunny every day, however your memory wants to tell it! So, `fast forward` and our life in France. I discovered a channel on our TV box called S4C which showed Welsh `live` football from some of the football grounds that I had played on or visited. But, more interesting than the football, were the `wide-angle` shots from the television cameras. `There`s the office I used to work in!` `The factory has changed a bit!` That building…..` At that point I realised that I had lost my `audience`. My grandson had decided that the best way to treat the `N` word was to smile and ignore and wait for the memoirs!
Brian Thomas
Please send your contributions and letters for the August issue to: “The Grapevine” Editor at: [email protected] before 15
th July
Requests to be included on the emailing list should be addressed to Jacqui Stainton-James at: [email protected]
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